LAHORE: The Lahore Bar Association (LBA) in its meeting on Tuesday expressed hesitation in receiving two cheques recommended and sanctioned by Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Khawaja Muhammad Sharif for LBA members who were injured by police during a crackdown on the Aiwan-e-Adl on October 31.
The LBA would take the final decision in this regard in its meeting to be held on December 8 at the Aiwan-e-Adl Committee Room. According to the details, the LHC CJ had recommended and sanctioned Rs 2 million for the LBA and Rs 3 million for its members who were injured by police during the assault on lawyers.
The LBA on Tuesday received intimation from the Punjab advocate general office that two cheques from the LHC CJ have been received and the LBA might receive the cheques from the said office. After receiving the news, the LBA decided not to receive both the cheques. The meeting also decided to raise the issue in the general house meeting.
After the meeting, LBA President Sajid Bashir and Secretary Qasim Hassan Buttar told Pakistan Today that the LHC CJ was solely responsible for the police crackdown on lawyers during the protests demanding transfer of District and Session Judge Zawar Ahmed Sheikh from Lahore.
They said that sanctioning Rs 5 million was an attempt to extend a friendly gesture to the LBA who held the LHC CJ responsible for the police crackdown on lawyers. They said that the LBA would not take any decision which would be against the legal fraternity’s interest.